How to Celebrate the Year of the Dragon in Toronto

Look out for lion dances, lanterns and plenty of food: today is the start of the Year of the Dragon.

As Toronto communities celebrate the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated by many Asian communities, there is much to do around the city.

It's a time for families to come together, share food and celebrate the coming year, said Alan Lam, chairman of the Chinese Cultural Center of Greater Toronto (CCCGT).

If the Chinese zodiac is accurate, there is much to celebrate.

“The dragon represents action, energy and a lot of positivity,” Lam said. “So it's going to be a good year.”

From dances to dinners to concerts, here's how to get involved in this weekend's festivities.

What is happening in the city

Many Asian restaurants will have specials this weekend, and some bakeries and grocery stores will have red candy and snack boxes, a Chinese tradition for the occasion.

With Asian communities spread throughout the GTA, there are events everywhere this weekend.

Alan Lam, chairman of the Chinese Cultural Center of Greater Toronto, said that dumplings, such as those cooked at a restaurant in Chinatown, feature prominently in New Year's celebrations for the Chinese community. (Ethan Lang/CBC)

Markham Museum, Scarborough Town Center and Yorkdale Shopping Center have a variety of activities for the whole family, including musical performances and lion dances. Candle displays will be held throughout the month at Mel Lastman Square in North York and Woodside Square in Scarborough.

Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebrations will take place over the weekend at the Small World Center in the Trinity-Bellwoods neighborhood.

Across the city, Toronto Public Library's Parliament Street branch will be hosting a Korean Lunar New Year story time with Korean reading, family songs and activities.

The CCCGT will host a reception at its headquarters in Scarborough on Saturday afternoon and conclude the two-week celebration with performances and a dragon lantern display on the evening of February 24. Lam said he expects more than 600 people from the neighborhood to attend.

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Events in the city center

Cultural centers in downtown Toronto are also participating in the evening.

TIFF Lightbox will host a free art fair on Sunday at 1 p.m., followed by a screening of the 2019 Chinese-American film. Farewell.

Lion dance performances like the one in Regina will be part of Toronto's festivities. (Kung Fu Regina)

On the road at Roy Thomson Hall, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra welcomes special guests for a Tuesday night holiday show featuring the Butterfly Lovers Concert, Pippa's Song and other festive acts. Ottawa native Mark Rowswell, better known to Chinese audiences as Dashan.

The Royal Ontario Museum is hosting a Lunar New Year party next Friday, complete with DJs, dancing and a light projection show.

The Yeh Hong Community Wellness Foundation's annual benefit gala, Dragon Ball, will be held Saturday night at the Metro Convention Center in Toronto.

Chinatown festivities

And then, of course, there's the Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival, Toronto's “biggest and most sought-after Lunar New Year event,” says Chinatown BIA Chair Tony Lui.

Chinatown's main month-long New Year's celebrations take place at Dragon City Mall and Chinatown, pictured on the back of a bus stop advertisement for the event. (Ethan Lang/CBC)

The two-day festivities will take place in Chinatown and Dragon City Mall, including a traditional lion dance, a Chinese cuisine lunch and a mah-jongg tournament. Admission is free and events take place Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The festival also concludes a year-long naming contest for Chinatown's Mural Lane. Prizes will be drawn and the name of the winner will be submitted to the City of Toronto for approval.